St Joseph's Academy – East Ayrshire

Dear Parent/ Carer,

We would like to thank you for your continued support of school uniform over the 2025/26 session. You will be aware that we have very high expectations of school uniform at St. Joseph’s Academy and regularly receive positive feedback about this from the local community and visitors to our school. We are very proud of our pupils who look extremely smart in their uniform.

In order to maintain these excellent uniform standards, we have put together a guide for parents & carers when purchasing uniform items for the new session in August. Please ensure you are aware of the expectations as set out below for your child returning to school on Wednesday 19^th August 2026.

Our School Uniform

• Joseph’s Academy School Blazer
• Joseph’s Academy School Tie (S1-3 Junior tie/ S4-6 Senior Tie)
• Black school skirt (should be of an appropriate length and worn with black tights)
• Black school trousers (smart, tailored black shorts with no logos are acceptable in warmer months but not sport shorts)
• White shirt
• Black cardigan or school jumper (without any logos, hoods or branding and with school tie clearly visible)
• Shoes or trainers which are completely black including the sole and laces (please do not purchase black & white Converse, Adidas, Vans or other black and white trainers for school)

School blazers and ties can be purchased from Ayrshire schoolwear online here, or in-store in Kilmarnock.

The newer school blazers from Ayrshire schoolwear are polyester and are machine washable which means there is no need for dry cleaning.

The following items are occasionally worn by pupils to school, but are NOT part of our school uniform. Young people wearing these items to school will be asked to remove the item or replace it with one from our uniform store.

Please ensure your child does not wear these items as school uniform:

• Any footwear that is not completely black (including Converse, Vans, Adidas Campus or Gazelles Nike Dunks and trainers with colourful logos)
• Jeans, tracksuit bottoms, leggings or cargo trousers
• Hoodies, zip tops, crew neck jumpers and jumpers with logos or brands (even if black)
• Sport shorts (even if black)
• Polo neck or high neck jumpers where the school tie is not visible

Outdoor jackets should always be removed inside the building, even if they are black.

Please do not purchase designer or branded items as part of school uniform. These items are not in line with our uniform standards and buying these items can create inequity amongst pupils who then put pressure on parents & carers to purchase similar items.

PE Kit

Our St. Joseph’s Academy PE kit consists of:

• Short sleeved/ long sleeved T shirt (no vest tops, crop tops or football colours)
• Shorts, tracksuit bottoms or leggings
• Trainers
• Moulded shoes or boots for AstroTurf (if required)
• A waterproof jacket for outdoor PE
• Change of socks

St. Joseph’s Academy PE tops can be ordered from Ayrshire schoolwear here.

School Clothing Grant

Some families are entitled to a Clothing Grant to help towards the cost of school uniform. We strongly encourage you to apply for this support. If you need support completing the application for any reason, please contact us and we can arrange this.

You can check your eligibility and apply for the Clothing Grant here.

Support for Families

Where there are financial barriers to acquiring school uniform items or are struggling to get any items, please get in touch using the link below.

Contact us confidentially for support with uniform

We hold a stock of uniform items which we can provide to pupils if required in the event of an emergency. Please contact us if your child needs to borrow a uniform item at any time.

We hold a stock of school ties which pupils can borrow if ties are forgotten or misplaced. Please ensure your child returns any borrowed ties to the school office.

Donations of school uniform

In the interest of sustainability, and to allow us to support families in our school community, we welcome donations of any school uniform items in good condition which you no longer require.

If you have any of the following items in good condition, we would be delighted if you would donate these to us via the school office:

• School Blazers (wool or polyester)
• School ties ( junior or senior)
• Black school skirts or trousers
• Black school jumpers or cardigans
• PE kit items in good conditions

Thank you again for your continued support of our school uniform. We hope that you all have a wonderful summer break.

Please find below important information shared with all QS Candidates this week.

Dear Parents/Carers,

Please use the link to access the 2025-2026 LearnWell Calendar.  Learnwell Calendar 25.26.docx

Kind regards,

Prelim TT 2025

• You may have more than one exam in a day. This is unavoidable, and could happen in the SQA exam diet. If you feel that you would be unfairly disadvantaged because of this i.e. you get extra time and will have no break between exams, please come and speak to me or email me.
• If you are not sitting any exams this year, you attend class as normal during the prelims to work on your National Qualifications
• If you are entitled to additional arrangements i.e. use of a digital paper, Mrs Hoy will provide you with a personalised timetable in November. Make sure you know the start time and location if you will not be in the main hall.

• Full school uniform must be worn to all exams and when S4-6 pupils attend school at any time during the prelim diet. Outdoor jackets and any non-uniform items must be removed in the exam hall, as they would be in class.
• There is no Study Leave for prelim exams. All candidates should attend classes as usual unless they have a scheduled exam.
• Candidates should ensure they know the location of each exam in advance and must check the seating lists in ‘The Street’ area from 8:40am to ensure they know their seat number.
• Candidates entitled to alternative assessment arrangements i.e. use of ICT or extra time will have alternative accommodation. These candidates should ensure they know their individual arrangements in advance of each exam. Please see Mrs Hoy if you are unsure.
• Candidates should arrive at least ten minutes before each exam to ensure they are seated and the assessment can begin promptly.
• Candidates are responsible for bringing all necessary equipment such as pens, pencils and calculators. Paper will be provided.
• Exam papers and candidate answers must be left in the exam hall and cannot be removed.
• School transport will continue as normal during the prelim diet, as will canteen service. Pupils may need to take an earlier or later lunch depending on exam times and should ensure they plan ahead for this.
• If a candidate is unable to attend a scheduled exam due to serious illness or an emergency, parents/ carers should contact the school office on 01563 526 144 as soon as possible and leave a message stating the pupil name, year group, scheduled exam and reason for absence. Prelim exams cannot be rescheduled/ resat unless there are exceptional circumstances.
• Exam locations:
• Games Hall – the large gym hall, access at the Drama Studio, Fitness Suite and the Assembly Hall
• Small Gym – the smaller gym next to the primary gym, access via corridor at PE
• Support for Learning – if you are sitting an exam in an alternative location because you receive additional arrangements, report to Mrs Hoy before the exam begins, across from the school library, if you are unsure where to go.

• The school does not send any alternative evidence to SQA for Appeals. This means that if you received a higher grade in your prelim, it does not help your appeal. 
• The estimated grade your teacher provided, and may have discussed with you, has no bearing on your ability to appeal a grade
• If you require an appeal for university entry this September, this will be dealt with as matter of priority by SQA
• If you do not have a conditional offer for university starting September 2025, your appeal is not a priority appeal (but will still be processed)
• If you appeal, your grade could go up or go down or stay the same

Dear S3 Pupils and Parents/Carers,

Please use the undernoted to further support your son/daughter following our Personalisation and Choice event on the evening of Thursday 16th January.

• S3 into S4 Option Choice Presentation  – Click Here
• SDS Presentation – Click Here
• Ayrshire College Presentation – Click Here
• S3 into S4 Option Choice Booklet  – Click Here
• S3 Option Choice video – Click Here
• SDS Careers Adviser video led by Kate Faulds (SDS) – Click Here
• SDS Careers Adviser Contact details to arrange discussion with parents/carers – Click Here
• Scottish Credits and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) PowerPoint Presentation Click Here
• Regional Skills Assessment Report – SDS 2024 – Click Here
• School College Partnership Course List – Tuesday/Thursday Afternoons – Click Here
• Full Time College Course Application Process – Click Here

Interviews with Pastoral Care teachers will begin as soon as possible following the information evening.

Please note, some of the above videos were recorded in earlier sessions, but the advice and guidance is still relevant. The booklet and School Presentations are updated annually.

Kind Regards

Dear Parents & carers,

Our prelim diet takes place in November/ December this year. Prelims begin on Monday 25th November 2024.

Please find a copy of our prelim timetable here, with some important information about prelim exams on the last page. Please take time to read the important info below.

A copy was also emailed to pupils on 28/10/24.

Prelim TT 2024 V2

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL CANDIDATES TAKING PRELIM EXAMINATIONS
Full school uniform must be worn to all exams and when S4-6 pupils attend school at any time during the prelim diet. Outdoor jackets and any non-uniform
items must be removed in the exam hall, as they would be in class.
There is no Study Leave for prelim exams. All candidates should attend classes as usual unless they have a scheduled exam.
Candidates should ensure they know the location of each exam in advance and must check the seating lists in ‘The Street’ area from 8:40am to ensure they
know their seat number.
Candidates entitled to alternative assessment arrangements i.e. use of ICT or extra time will have alternative accommodation. These candidates should ensure
they know their individual arrangements in advance of each exam. Please see Mrs Hoy if you are unsure.
Candidates should arrive at least ten minutes before each exam to ensure they are seated and the assessment can begin promptly.
Candidates are responsible for bringing all necessary equipment such as pens, pencils and calculators. Paper will be provided.
Exam papers and candidate answers must be left in the exam hall and cannot be removed.
School transport will continue as normal during the prelim diet, as will canteen service. Pupils may need to take an earlier or later lunch depending on exam
times and should ensure they plan ahead for this.
If a candidate is unable to attend a scheduled exam due to serious illness or an emergency, parents/ carers should contact the school office on 01563 526 144
as soon as possible and leave a message stating the pupil name, year group, scheduled exam and reason for absence. Prelim exams cannot be rescheduled/
resat unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Exam locations:
Games Hall – the large gym hall, access at the Drama Studio, Fitness Suite and the Assembly Hall
Small Gym – the smaller gym next to the primary gym, access via corridor at PE
Support for Learning – if you are sitting an exam in an alternative location because you receive additional arrangements, report to Mrs Hoy before the exam
begins, across from the school library, if you are unsure where to go.

Kind Regards,

Mrs Buchanan (Miss Quigley)

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